President Donald Trump on Saturday morning criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for continuing to hit Ukraine, and suggested Putin needs to be “dealt with differently” moving forward.
The same morning, minutes before Pope Francis’ funeral, Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in St. Peter’s Basilica. Both sides signaled that the meeting was “good” and “productive.”
“There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. “It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along.”
Trump added that Putin might have “to be dealt with differently, through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?’ Too many people are dying!!!”
Notably, 50 senators — 25 Democrats and 25 Republicans — introduced a bill earlier this month that would impose additional sanctions on Russia.
Truth Social: Screenshot
Trump’s post also said the idea that Ukraine would get back Crimea is “ridiculous,” and slammed former President Barack Obama for allowing Russia to take the territory. Zelensky has said that he won’t recognize Russia’s control of Crimea.
“[The New York Times’ Peter Baker] wrote that Ukraine should get back territory, including, I suppose, Crimea, and other ridiculous requests, in order to stop the killing that is worse than anything since World War II,” Trump wrote. “Why doesn’t this lightweight reporter say that it was Obama who made it possible for Russia to steal Crimea from Ukraine without even a shot being fired.”
In a Time magazine article published on Friday, Trump said he would facilitate a deal between Russia and Ukraine, but noted that Putin would have liked to “take the whole thing,” referring to Ukrainian territory.
“Yeah, I think Putin will [make peace],” Trump said. “I think Putin would rather do it a different way. I think he’d rather go and take the whole thing. And I think that because of me, I believe I’m the only one that can get this thing negotiated. And I think we’re a long way. We’ve had very good talks, and we’re getting very close to a deal. And I don’t believe anybody else could have made that deal.”
On Friday, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow to speak with Putin and other top Russian officials and push for a peace deal.
Putin advisers Yuri Ushakov and Kirill Dmitriev said the meeting was “constructive and useful,” and brought the United States and Russia “closer together” on Ukraine and other issues, according to Axios. Additionally, Witkoff and Putin discussed the possibility of resuming direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
Related: Trump Meets With Zelensky At Vatican Ahead Of Pope’s Funeral: ‘Very Productive’
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